Mail-bag closure.



C. L. DAUGHERTY.

MAIL BAG CLOSURE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY], 1916.

Patented June 5, 1917.

YNI. NONE/S FEVER; CO FNOTDJJTNOH WASNIMGION. I C, V

CHARLES L. DAUGHERTY, 0J3 LYONS, KENTUCKY.

MAIL-BAG CLOSURE.

' Application filed July 7, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. DAUGH- nn'rY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and res ident of Lyons, in the county of Larue and State ofKentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MaiLBagClosures, of which the following is a speciiication.

The present invention relates to mail bags and has particular referenceto new and useful improvements in closures therefor.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a mail bag closurewhich is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture and apply, strongand durable and effective in use.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved sealing meansfor use in connection with the closure, whereby to seal the same againstopening accidentally or otherwise.

Other objects and advantages to be derived from the use of my improvedmall bag closure and sealing means will appear from the following detaildescription and the claim, taken with an inspection of the ac companyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail bag closure embodying theimprovements of my invention, the same being shown in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental vertical sectional view through a mail bag andclosure showing the improved sealing means of my invention; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental perspective view of a portion of themail bag", closure and sealing member; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view of the hinge of myimproved mail bag.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein. similar charactersof reference designate like and corresponding parts throughout thevarious views, 1 designates the body of a mail bag which may be of theusual. material, namely, canvas or the like. A leather bottom 2 isprovided.

The closure member includes a cap 3 formed of flexible material, such asleatheror the like, said cap'having an annular lateral flange l. The cap3 is hinged to the body 1 by a strip 5 of flexible material, such asleather or the like.

The sealing or locking means of my improved mail bag closure includes aplurality of p mber 6 secu ed to the fla 4 of Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented June 5, 1917.

eel-m1 1%. 107,970.

- as at 10 to the mail bag body 1, the body of the strap being arrangedcircumferentially of the body through said loop members 6 as best shownin Figs. 1 and 2. The strap 9 is provided with a plurality ofelongatedopenings ll adjacent the free ends thereof, one of saidopenings being engageable with a staple 12 carried by the body 1 of themail bag, a padlock 13 or the like serving to prevent disengagement ofsaid strap from said staple.

Thus, it will be seen that when the closure is in the closed positionthe strap 9 serves to retain the closure in closed position and alsoacts as a seal indicating whether or not the mail bag has been tamperedwith. I desire to lay particular stress upon the simplicity of my mailbag closure and sealing means as well as the strength and durability ofthe same. None of the parts, with the exception of the padlock, aredetachable from the mail bag and it will therefore be seen that loss ofany of the parts is practically impossible without entirely destroyingthe bag or mutilation of the same. Of course, it is to be understoodthat I do not limit my improved closure member for use in connectionwith mail bags, but the showing and description now made is merely oneillustration of one use to which the device may be put.

From the above description taken in connection with. the accompanyingdrawing, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding ofthe construction, operation and advantages of my invention may be had,and while I have shown and described the device as embodying a specificstructure, I desire that it be understood that such changes may be madein said structure as do not depart from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my inven tion, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In a device of the class described, the combination of a mail bag havinga plurality of vertii liy arranged elongated openings a closure thereforc0mprising a cap member,

a laterally extending flange formed one said i a cap member, loopedstrap members adapted strap inserted through each of said looped strapmembers after thesame has been engaged in the openin'g. v I

In testimony'whereof, I afixrny signature hereto.

CHARLES L. DAUGHERTY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing" the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G.

